Paging based on individual user mobility patterns

Abstract

In one example, the present disclosure describes a device, computer-readable medium, and method for paging a user endpoint device based on the mobility patterns of the individual user associated with the user endpoint device. For instance, in one example, a method includes determining a paging zone for a user endpoint device. The paging zone includes a first base station to page the user endpoint device, where the first base station is included in the paging zone based at least in part on a historical mobility pattern of the user endpoint device and on present network conditions around the user endpoint device. An instruction is sent to the first base station. The instruction instructs the first base station to send a paging request message to the user endpoint device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 determining, by a processing system including at least one processor, a paging zone for a user endpoint device, wherein the paging zone includes a first base station to page the user endpoint device, and wherein the first base station is included in the paging zone based at least in part on a historical mobility pattern of the user endpoint device and on present network conditions around the user endpoint device, wherein the paging zone is determined by:
 obtaining a first tracking area for the user endpoint device, wherein the first tracking area is served by a second base station that is a last base station to have served the user endpoint device, and wherein a total number of times that the second base station has served the user endpoint device is less than a first predefined threshold; 
 obtaining an expanded tracking area comprising the first tracking area and any neighboring tracking areas that are immediately adjacent to the first tracking area; and 
 arranging a plurality of base stations residing in the expanded tracking area in an ordered set that lists the plurality of base stations in a descending order of probability that any user endpoint device connected to an access network comprising the plurality of base stations will respond to a paging request message from a respective base station of the plurality of base stations when the second base station was the last base station to have served the any user endpoint device, wherein the first base station is included in the plurality of base stations; and 
 
 sending, by the processing system, an instruction to the first base station, wherein the instruction instructs the first base station to send a paging request message to the user endpoint device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the historical mobility pattern comprises an observed, repeated pattern of behavior of the user endpoint device with respect to mobility. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the present network conditions around the user endpoint device comprise observed present network radio frequency, network traffic, and network mobility conditions in a geographic area within a defined radius of the user endpoint device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the probability is computed, for the respective base station, by computing a number of paging responses received by the respective base station from all user endpoint devices connected to the access network when last-known locations of all of the user endpoint devices were in the first tracking area. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adding the plurality of base stations from the ordered set into the paging zone in the descending order, until a stopping criterion is reached. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the stopping criterion is the addition of a third base station to the paging zone, and wherein the addition of the third base station to the paging zone first causes more paging request messages to be generated in the access network. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the stopping criterion is the addition of a third base station to the paging zone, and wherein the addition of the third base station to the paging zone first causes a paging success rate to at least meet a predefined threshold. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein a value of the predefined threshold is variable depending on a priority of a service associated with the paging request message. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that the user endpoint device has not responded to the paging request message within a threshold period of time; and 
 in response to the determining that the user endpoint device has not responded, sending the instruction to the second base station. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the paging zone comprises a plurality of base stations including the first base station. 
     
     
       11. A device comprising:
 a processing system including at least one processor; and 
 a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 determining a paging zone for a user endpoint device, wherein the paging zone includes a first base station to page the user endpoint device, and wherein the first base station is included in the paging zone based at least in part on a historical mobility pattern of the user endpoint device and on present network conditions around the user endpoint device, wherein the paging zone is determined by:
 obtaining a first tracking area for the user endpoint device, wherein the first tracking area is served by a second base station that is a last base station to have served the user endpoint device, and wherein a total number of times that the second base station has served the user endpoint device is less than a first predefined threshold; 
 obtaining an expanded tracking area comprising the first tracking area and any neighboring tracking areas that are immediately adjacent to the first tracking area; and 
 arranging a plurality of base stations residing in the expanded tracking area in an ordered set that lists the plurality of base stations in a descending order of probability that any user endpoint device connected to an access network comprising the plurality of base stations will respond to a paging request message from a respective base station of the plurality of base stations when the second base station was the last base station to have served the any user endpoint device, wherein the first base station is included in the plurality of base stations; and 
 
 sending an instruction to the first base station, wherein the instruction instructs the first base station to send a paging request message to the user endpoint device. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the historical mobility pattern comprises an observed, repeated pattern of behavior of the user endpoint device with respect to mobility. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the present network conditions around the user endpoint device comprise observed present network radio frequency, network traffic, and network mobility conditions in a geographic area within a defined radius of the user endpoint device. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the probability is computed, for the respective base station, by computing a number of paging responses received by the respective base station from all user endpoint devices connected to the access network when last-known locations of all of the user endpoint devices were in the first tracking area. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 11 , the operations further comprising:
 adding the plurality of base stations from the ordered set into the paging zone in the descending order, until a stopping criterion is reached. 
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the stopping criterion is the addition of a third base station to the paging zone, and wherein the addition of the third base station to the paging zone first causes more paging request messages to be generated in the access network. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the stopping criterion is the addition of a third base station to the paging zone, and wherein the addition of the third base station to the paging zone first causes a paging success rate to at least meet a predefined threshold. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 17 , wherein a value of the predefined threshold is variable depending on a priority of a service associated with the paging request message. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 11 , the operations further comprising:
 determining that the user endpoint device has not responded to the paging request message within a threshold period of time; and 
 in response to the determining that the user endpoint device has not responded, sending the instruction to the second base station. 
 
     
     
       20. An apparatus comprising:
 a processing system including at least one processor for determining a paging zone for a user endpoint device, wherein the paging zone includes a first base station to page the user endpoint device, and wherein the first base station is included in the paging zone based at least in part on a historical mobility pattern of the user endpoint device and on present network conditions around the user endpoint device, wherein the paging zone is determined by:
 obtaining a first tracking area for the user endpoint device, wherein the first tracking area is served by a second base station that is a last base station to have served the user endpoint device, and wherein a total number of times that the second base station has served the user endpoint device is less than a first predefined threshold; 
 obtaining an expanded tracking area comprising the first tracking area and any neighboring tracking areas that are immediately adjacent to the first tracking area; and 
 arranging a plurality of base stations residing in the expanded tracking area in an ordered set that lists the plurality of base stations in a descending order of probability that any user endpoint device connected to an access network comprising the plurality of base stations will respond to a paging request message from a respective base station of the plurality of base stations when the second base station was the last base station to have served the any user endpoint device, wherein the first base station is included in the plurality of base stations; and 
 
 an output device for sending an instruction to the first base station, wherein the instruction instructs the first base station to send a paging request message to the user endpoint device.